8 Wing Commander

Colonel Leighton LLJ James, CD

Col James enrolled as a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force after completing a bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Toronto. Upon completion of pilot training, Col James received his wings in 2004 and was posted to 413 Transport and Rescue Squadron at 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia. While in Greenwood, Col James conducted numerous search and rescue missions and served as Aircraft Commander, Pilot Leader and Hercules Flight Commander.

Posted to 426 Squadron at 8 Wing Trenton in 2009, Col James became a pilot instructor at the Hercules Operational Training Unit and eventually held the position of Deputy Commanding Officer at the Squadron.

Col James has participated in numerous humanitarian missions within Canada. He has also deployed internationally to Haiti on Op HESTIA and completed a tour in Qatar on Op FOUNDATION at the Combined Aerospace Operations Center. While deployed, he represented Canada as the Senior Canadian Representative and Liaison to U.S. Air force Central Command.

Col James completed a master’s degree in Defence Studies at the Joint Command and Staff College in Toronto in 2015.

Col James was employed as the Air Advisor to the Commander of 1 Canadian Division in Kingston, the unit responsible for providing the headquarters for Disaster Assistance Relief operations, known as the DART, Non-combatant Evacuations operations, and full spectrum operations.

In 2016, Col James assumed command of 424 Squadron where he oversaw the “Tigers” expertly perform their duties as Search and Rescue professionals, saving the lives of their fellow citizens on a daily basis.

In 2018, Col James was posted to the Canadian Forces College as directing staff and assumed the role of Program Officer in 2019. In 2020, Col James was promoted to his current rank and appointed as Joint Air Component Coordination Element Director at the Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC). In 2023, Col James completed the National Security Program at the Canadian Forces College. He was subsequently posted to the CJOC where he served as the Special Advisor to the Commander.

Col James is blessed with two children, Samuel and Micah and is married to the love of his life, Amy.